Smoke gets in MPs’ eyes

The opposition has stepped up its attack on the federal government’s new taxes, as Labor targeted divisions in the Coalition over climate change and moves to curb smoking.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott seized on a report produced in Treasurer Wayne Swan’s home state of Queensland to make a point that already struggling families would face a bigger burden under carbon and mining taxes.

The Queensland Council of Social Service report found the average family of a husband, wife and two children had only $3 left at the end of the week after everyday expenses.

“It is bad and it is going to get much worse because this government wants to hit the struggling families of Australia with just more taxes,” Mr Abbott told Parliament.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard defended the government’s proposed carbon and mining taxes, saying they were needed to cut emissions, create clean energy jobs and spread the benefits of the next mining boom.

A day after six Coalition MPs questioned the findings of a new scientific report on global warming, Ms Gillard said the opposition remained “mired in climate change denial”.

The debate came as Labor focused on division in the Coalition over the government’s proposal to mandate plain packets for cigarettes.

Although Mr Abbott said his shadow cabinet had yet to decide whether to support the law, three Coalition MPs signalled they would cross the floor, giving the government the majority it needs.

The former Howard government health minister later told Parliament he was concerned about the rising cost of cigarettes.

“I don’t like smoking any more than the next person, but overwhelmingly these are some of the least privileged, least well off, people in our community,” Mr Abbott said.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon urged Mr Abbott to “kick the habit” and get behind the reforms, pointing to the Coalition parties’ failure to follow Labor and the Australian Greens in banning political donations from tobacco companies.

He also had words for Labor, accusing former ALP national secretary Karl Bitar of misusing his inside knowledge of government.

“It is wrong and we should certainly see much stronger regulations and rules about ex-politicians and senior political insiders being able to move to use the knowledge they’ve had from being on the political inside not only to their own advantage but to the advantage of sectional interests.”

Resources Minister Martin Ferguson also faced criticism over his support for the coal industry, which Senator Brown said he hoped went the same way as whaling.

Mr Ferguson said he believed in the future of the coal, iron ore and gas industries over coming decades.